An Indian Air Force AN-32 transport aircraft crashed during a routine sortie at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam, killing five personnel. The incident occurred on Saturday at around 10 a.m. during the landing phase.
The Indian Air Force confirmed that the deceased include one Squadron Leader, one Flight Lieutenant, one Sergeant, and two personnel recruited under the Agniveer programme.
Immediately after the crash, the aircraft caught fire, and emergency teams rushed to bring the situation under control. However, all occupants were killed in the intense blaze.
The Indian Air Force has constituted a court of inquiry to determine the cause of the accident. It is not yet clear whether the crash was due to a technical malfunction or other factors.
The AN-32 transport aircraft has long been in service with the Indian Air Force and is known for its operational capability in mountainous terrain and adverse weather conditions, playing a key role in troop and cargo transport.
Following the incident, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed condolences and said that detailed information is being gathered. Notably, this comes months after another Indian Air Force aircraft crash was reported in the same region.
Source: NDTV